Anti-Beyoncé Protest Rally To Be Held

10Feb

Since it happened on Sunday, your memory might still be fresh regarding the the spectacular show that was the NFL’s 50th Super Bowl. There were epic performances by Lady Gaga, who sung the National Anthem, and a medley by Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. Let’s also not forget the colorful stands that symbolized an open acceptance of Gay Pride. Relive the performances HERE.

One of the most discussed (and re-discussed) performances that took place that evening is the one by Beyoncé. A day before the Super Bowl, she released a video for her single, Formation, which had a few explicit lyrics to it, but had an overall taste of her pride about her heritage, being black and all. The lyrics go like:

My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana / You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas bama

I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros / I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils

Though the song sounds like quite the homage to her ancestry, the other parts of the lyrics include what she does after coitus and calling her fellow women “hoes”.

So what does the Anti-Beyoncé Protest Rally have to do with all this? After all, haven’t rappers and R&B stars been using degrading terms and lyrics for each for decades now? The problem begins at the Super Bowl, because people are protesting the fact that she used such a popular, sporty, neutral platform to wave “Black Pride” in the face of viewers, using references and props that boldly declared allegiance to the King Of Pop and the Black Panthers. Case in point? Check out these two images.

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City went ballistic when asked about the performance by the artist. His exact words were: “I think it was outrageous. The halftime show, I thought, was ridiculous anyway. I don’t know what the heck it was. A bunch of people bouncing around and all strange things. It was terrible. This is football, not Hollywood, and I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive. And what we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers. And focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, OK, we’ll work on that. But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe.”

There were many political references made during the performance, including a “formation” by her and her performers in an X – signaling Malcolm X, arm raised – signaling the “Black Power” symbol and she and her dancers dressed in black – honoring the Black Panthers.

Beyoncé hasn’t made an official statement yet, but if it was her plan to create a noise, then she is doing a damn fine job. If it was her plan to further divide America into Black and White, then man, she is the true winner of the Super Bowl.

As for the Anti-Beyoncé Protest Rally, it is yet to be held, to check the total turn-out, or whether it will fizzle out all together.